Jun 18, 2024 By Chris Dugan 4 min read

There is a popular blueprint for how to make the Frontier League playoffs that many managers in the league preach: Win two out of every three home games and play .500 ball on the road.

The Wild Things, however, seem to have that proven method reversed.

Collin Sullivan and three relievers combined on a one-hit shutout as Gateway blanked Washington, 4-0, in a series opener played on a steamy Tuesday night.

The loss drops Washington’s record in home games to 8-8. The Wild Things have won all of their road series and have a 14-3 record in away games.

While winning at home has been a 50-50 proposition for Washington, simply scoring a run against Gateway in Wild Things Park has been a monumental task. Gateway pitchers have shut out the Wild Things in each of their last three games played in Washington – one was a rain-shortened contest – and have thrown 26 consecutive scoreless innings.

The only Washington hit was a single by Tommy Caufield to lead off the fifth inning. Caufield hit a hard grounder that Gateway second baseman Gabe Holt made a diving stop of while going to his left. Holt’s throw to first base was too late to retire Caufield.

Sullivan (3-2) threw 100 pitches in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven. Sullivan was followed on the mound by Gage Vailles (two innings), Alec Whaley and Nate Garkow. Washington did not have a baserunner after the fifth inning. Washington hitters struck out 13 times.

Gateway took a 1-0 lead in the third inning against Washington starter Zach Kirby (3-3), who entered the night leading the league in ERA. A walk to D.J. Stewart was followed by a Kyle Gaedele single. Colt Brannen was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Kirby did a nice job of limiting the damage as Abdiel Diaz hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. A flyout and struck out ended the inning.

The Grizzlies made it 2-0 in the fifth on Holt’s two-out RBI single that scored Gaedele.

A two-run seventh inning knocked out Kirby. Brannen, a former Wild Things outfielder, singled with one out, stole second base and scored on a single by Daiz.

That ended the night for Kirby, who was replaced by lefty Frankie Giuliano, who hit the first two batters he faced. Jack-Thomas Wold then lofted a sacrifice fly.

Kirby gave up six hits and four runs in 6⅓ innings. He walked two and struck out five. All three of Kirby’s losses this season have come against Gateway, and in each the Wild Things have been shut out.

Washington did have two scoring opportunities but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Evan Berkey was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the first inning. He stole second base but was stranded there after a strikeout, flyout and foulout.

In the fifth, after Caufield’s infield single, Alex Ovalles walked, and Ricardo Sanchez drew a one-out walk that loaded the bases. Sullivan got out of the jam with a strikeout and foulout. That ended the night for Sullivan.

Roster move

Washington made a roster move prior to the series. The Wild Things released utilityman Dylan Procopio and signed right-handed pitcher Aaron Forrest.

Procopio, a Keystone Oaks graduate, was signed to replace second baseman Evan Berkey, who was not with the team during its weekend series at Schaumburg. Berkey has returned.

The 6-2 Forrest is a rookie out of Doane University, an NAIA school in Nebraska. He had an 11-1 record and 3.01 ERA this spring with 96 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings. He was the ace on a team that had a 39-15 record.

Forrest had been pitching for Traverse City in the Northwoods summer league.

“That road trip took its toll on the pitching staff,” Washington manager Tom Vaeth said. “We needed bodies.”

Vaeth said that starting pitcher Malik Barrington, who was placed on the 7-day disabled list last week, will not return this week. When asked if Christian James, who made a spot start last week at Gateway, will make another start, Vaeth said, “not in the foreseeable future. We need him in the bullpen.”